10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2022

Every place has its common birds, the species that do very well in a given habitat. As we like to say, these are species that are “hard to miss”, birds that, if you are watching, will be seen. As one might expect, signature birds take many forms. Bird in southern Asia and there are mynas and magpie-robins.

Costa Rica 147

Costa Rica San Jose Asia Geese 147

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2016

Birds know habitat. They don’t read treaties or draw maps or build walls and, as far as we can tell (since we can’t talk to birds, yet), they have no concept of political boundaries. Robert Gallardo’s self-published Guide to the Birds of Honduras came out in 2015, and is the first bird field guide dedicated to that country.

El Salvador 234

El Salvador America Costa Rica Honduras 234

10,000 Birds

JUNE 10, 2022

A birding trip is more than arriving to your destination and watching birds. A successful birding trip is a process, one that requires a fair degree of planning and as much studying as you want (or can handle). Your preparations will also reveal when someone is actually a pseudo birding guide. Right, say what?!

Costa Rica 259

Costa Rica Birds Panama Rights 259

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2017

A member of the small Ptiliogonatidae family of silky-flycatchers, of which there are only three other species besides our local Phainopepla , Phainopepl nitens. The Black-and-white Phainoptila , Phainoptila melanoxantha from Costa Rica and Panama. It would appear that this is the only bird with this capability.

Costa Rica 107

Costa Rica Panama Nevada Guatemala 107

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

In September, I had the fantastic opportunity to travel to an increasingly popular destination for birding: Honduras. Chris Lotz, the owner of the international bird tour company Birding Ecotours , invited me to join him on a familiarization trip that included several highland sites as well as Pico Bonito Lodge.

Honduras 226

Honduras Costa Rica El Salvador Arizona 226

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

The Durango Highway is arguably one of North America’s great birding roads due to the great variety of habitats, the spectacular mountain scenery of the Sierra Madre Occidental, and the numerous Mexican endemics one can target. Think Arizona meets Costa Rica with a Mexican twist. Photo by Andrew Spencer.

Mexico 201

Mexico Costa Rica Arizona Birds 201

10,000 Birds

JULY 27, 2013

In the new world all meadowlarks and blackbirds, along with grackles, cowbirds, orioles, oropendulas, and some others, are members of the family Icteridae , the New World Blackbirds. If only naming birds were so simple! You can also find Red-breasted Blackbirds in Costa Rica and Panama and south to Peru and Brazil.

Blackbirds 167

Blackbirds Trinidad Costa Rica Nicaragua 167

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

Don’t they compete with native birds? Its native range stretches from the southern Pacific coast of Mexico south to northwestern Costa Rica, where it is an inhabitant of arid to semihumid woodland and open areas with scattered trees. They do not seem to form feeding flocks with any other bird species, native or exotic.

Miami 177

Miami Costa Rica Florida 2005 177

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 16, 2017

I watch birds pretty much all the time. This may come as a surprise to folks who keep their birding casual, or who limit their watching to a backyard feeder. I watch birds all the time and I can’t help it. In Costa Rica, instead of frogmouths, we have equally weird and wonderful potoos.

Costa Rica 178

Costa Rica Solomon Islands Wisconsin Farming 178

10,000 Birds

MAY 16, 2015

Like 13,000 plus other birders around the world, I watched birds on May 9th and submitted the results to eBird. Although I could have spent a morning birding at one of my favorite sites in Costa Rica, I couldn’t just settle for that. Rufous-winged Woodpecker – one of the many forest-based birds in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica 157

Costa Rica Species Owls 2015 157

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2011

All the local avian characters have been extra-antsy despite the weather, all contending for best bird of the weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend? Tell us in the comments section about the rarest, loveliest, or most fascinating bird you observed. Where Are You Birding This First Weekend of March 2011?

2011 156

2011 New York Deer Birds 156

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

It actually makes a lot of sense, the geographic features of the isthmus between North America (including Mexico, because Mexico is part of North America) and South America cut across political lines, as do birds. It is the first bird field guide to every country of Central America (plus the islands governed by those countries).

America 214

America El Salvador Costa Rica Honduras 214

10,000 Birds

JULY 17, 2012

Our recent trip to Selva Verde Lodge in Costa Rica was one such trip that held an unexpected surprise. These birds are regarded by many as the Holy Grail of birding in the Neotropics, not necessarily because of their rarity (Sunbitterns are actually fairly widespread) but because of their other unique attributes.

Costa Rica 258

Costa Rica Suriname Eggs Hunting 258

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 5, 2021

Some odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) are included in Costa Rica nature guides, but there are hundreds of these beautiful creatures flying around the diverse habitats of Costa Rican and there has not been a guide devoted just to them till now. Still, I have been stuck trying to identify a dragonfly I photographed in 2010.

Costa Rica 263

Costa Rica North America Family America 263

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

As 2013 draws to a close we here at 10,000 Birds thought that it would be a great idea if we, like we did in 2010 , 2011 , and 2012 , shared our Best Birds of the Year. We also want to know what YOUR Best Bird of the Year was. Now on to the Best Birds of the Year for those who write on 10,000 Birds! Sound good?

2013 168

2013 Birds Costa Rica India 168

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2018

And, for all our complaints about brown and gray plumages, gulls can be beautiful birds (well, some more beautiful than others, and Heermann’s Gull is one of my favorites, with one N at the end or two). In a birding world that celebrates identification, there are surprisingly few articles and books on gull identification.**

North America 208

North America America El Salvador Nicaragua 208

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2017

It was a good birding year. Many sad and unfortunate things occurred in 2016, but the birding was good. I started the year in Florida, traveled to India with the ABA in February, combined family and birding in an August trip to California, and in-between saw very good birds in New York and New Jersey.

2016 113

2016 India Ducks Birds 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2011

As part of the Wildlife Conservation Society Birds of Brazil giveaway we asked readers of 10,000 Birds to name the bird in Brazil that they would like to see more than any other species. It is a really neat bird that I have not seen before. It would mean that I was birding in a really cool place! Come quickly!”

Brazil 216

Brazil 2011 Birds Wildlife 216

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2011

Over the next few days, the Alpine Accentors ( Prunella collaris ) will arrive on their high-Alpine breeding grounds – it is time to start singing, despite that the treeless Alpine landscape is still under metres of snow. all Alpine Accetor photos digiscoped (c) Dale Forbes. all Alpine Accetor photos digiscoped (c) Dale Forbes.

2011 221

2011 Breeders Breeding Deer 221

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2016

For those who happen to be faithful followers of posts about birding in Costa Rica, no, you haven’t accidentally browsed to the wrong place. Today, I am writing about another very birdy place and an event that I was very fortunate to have experienced, the Champions of the Flyway Bird Race in Eilat, Israel.

Costa Rica 181

Costa Rica Eagles Birds 181

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2013

Smooth-billed Ani ( Crotophaga ani ) is a widespread and ubiquitous bird in disturbed grassy areas throughout much of the neotropics, including most of the Caribbean Islands. It is one of three species of ani ( Groove-billed and Greater Anis are the other two) and together form a unique branch in the cuckoo family.

Florida 202

Florida Virgin Islands Miami Breeders 202

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2019

Greeney was recommended to me as a book I HAD to review by no less than three birding friends. I hesitated because a 496-page book about two skulky neotropical bird groups is a little intimidating. I also wondered if a book like this would be of interest to 10,000 Birds readers.

Research 149

Research Eggs South America Costa Rica 149

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2011

On the other hand, I quite enjoyed an array of Long-tailed Ducks at Irondequoit Bay, including one male in breeding plumage. Corey enjoyed outstanding birding this weekend; not only did he spot his first (Eastern) Phoebe of spring , he also encountered his first Ross’ Goose in the borough of Queens.

2011 140

2011 Deer Birds Costa Rica 140